Malnutrition support saves lives: Aden

Aden Yemen, 09 March 2020 - As the humanitarian crisis continues unabated in Yemen, parents struggle every day to provide their children with the essentials they need to survive. UNICEF estimated that’s over 360,000 children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition. With our partners we are working around the clock to provide these children with the life saving support they need to survive.

Aisha Hail and her little son Mohammed who is 1.5 years are from Taiz. After fleeing insecurity in their homes, they found safety in a centre for internally displaced people in Aden, Mohammed is malnourished and after being screened by a mobile health team he is now receiving nutrition support.

“I brought him to the clinic because he isn’t eating and has diarrhoea . He is weak, I am worried about him. I am provided with antibiotics. He was born here while we were living in this camp. We came here three years ago because of fighting.

I need food; fruits and vegetables for his health to get better. I want us to go home to Taiz. I want him to heal, cure and live a normal life. I want him to complete his education and become a doctor.”

At Al Sadaqa Friendship Hospital in Aden, Faiza Mohammed the head nurse of the malnutrition ward and her colleague Dr. Aida see everyday the impact the conflict is having on the lives of the most vulnerable.

“We admit malnourished children here, giving them all the treatment, they need. The conflict has worsened the situation for people and increased the malnutrition rates,” Faiza says. “The conflict has had a huge impact on food supplies for households. IDPs are starving. Here we can provide them with everything they need to recover.”

 One such mother receiving this life saving support is Fatma Abdullah who is 33 years. She is in fact a refugee from Somalia who arrived in Aden 13 years ago.

“I came to Yemen 13 years ago by ship with a smuggler. I heard there was a refugee camp do I moved directly into the camp. I came alone but married in the camp,” she says. “My husband works washing cars to find what money he can. I am Somali but I can’t return there because my family are so poor, what would we do?”

Fatma has twins, her baby Saleh is malnourished but now receiving around the clock care in the hospital. “I was in pain seeing my baby sick but he is now getting better. Before he had fever, diarrhoea and now he is improving. I thank god even though I have many hurdles ahead of me,” she says.

UNICEF’s nutrition work across the country if made possible with vital support from our donors including KS Relief who provide essential nutrition supplies. They are essential in helping avert catastrophe across the country.